JUST PURCHASED MAC MINI!!!!

Soogs · 22 Apr 2009 at 20:40

Lo all,
after playing around with my ex-flat mates eMac and absolutely loving it i have gone and bought a mac mini!!

i dont have a clue when it will arrive but it is coming from the states.

im not sure if i will need a transformer but they should come as dual voltage as standard right?

whats the deal with keyboards and mice for macs?

i found a Microsoft Wired Desktop 600 Keyboard And Mouse for a decent price... is this any good or should i look harder?

how much should an apple kb and mouse cost?

specs are:
2ghz dual core
1gb memory
120gb hd
osx 10.4 with ilife (i think)

is there anything else i should need?

ARGH IM SOOOOO EXCITED

help me find something to do while i wait for this!

Cheers

mr.sly · 22 Apr 2009 at 20:58

Definitely get one of the new Apple keyboards. My friend gave me a wireless one for Christmas and it's probably the best present I've ever received.

I've not heard good things about the Mighty Mouse though, so probably best to go into an Apple store and see if you like the feel of it.

Ripper · 22 Apr 2009 at 20:58

A screen?

Soogs · 22 Apr 2009 at 21:01

thanks mr.sly

ripper: ill be using my 19" asus widescreen tft

MagicBoy · 22 Apr 2009 at 23:10

The new mini is a great little box. The power supply with my UK model is indeed dual voltage. They'll use any USB or bluetooth keyboard or mouse. I'm using an older Apple keyboard I bought for my MBP and a Logitech Bluetooth mouse. PC versions will work, however I believe the Command and Alt keys are swapped around.

New units will ship with OS 10.5 Leopard and iLife 09.

noVem · 23 Apr 2009 at 09:07

Soogs said:
is there anything else i should need?

App wise it all depends on what your going to be doing with it, but I've found these to be a must have;

Growl [http://growl.info/]
AppCleaner [http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/25276/appcleaner]
Skitch [http://skitch.com/]
MS RDP [http://www.microsoft.com/mac/products/remote-desktop/default.mspx]
1Password [http://agilewebsolutions.com/products/1Password] - not free

Hope this helps

unknowndomain · 23 Apr 2009 at 12:35

To add to the list...

Perian - http://perian.org/
Adium - http://adiumx.com

To be honest, its unlikley you would need MS RDP in common mac usage, 1Password is okay if you like someone else dealing with your passwords but as the computer already has built in password saving functionality - Keychain - this seems a little pointless. Appcleaner is okay if you really must clean out the plists when your done but its not nessisary, and Skitch is again quite specific you can do screen grabs using the keyboard shortcuts and upload to flickr so the only thing your missing is drawing tools but u might need those who knows.

Feel free to ask here if you have any questions about getting going.

Fillado · 23 Apr 2009 at 12:47

I would say get Leopard & iLife '09.

Also the Apple Mighty Mouse is good but the top scroll ball gets filled up with gunk which renders it useless after about a year (unless you are prepared to pop the thing open)...

Rich · 23 Apr 2009 at 12:57

Quicksilver.

Soogs · 23 Apr 2009 at 15:06

Thanks for the sugguestions/advice

Do macs come pre-installed or will i need to set it up?

also im not 100% sure if it comes with wifi and bt or just wifi... does anyone know if this model comes with built in bt?

Cheers

danv · 23 Apr 2009 at 15:48

They all come with Wifi and Bluetooth

FirebarUK · 23 Apr 2009 at 16:05

Logitech S530 tbh. Avoid Apple keyboards (new ones) - they're pretty horrible to type on.

mr.sly · 23 Apr 2009 at 16:06

FirebarUK said:
Logitech S530 tbh. Avoid Apple keyboards (new ones) - they're pretty horrible to type on tbh.

It's probably the best keyboard for typing ever!

iraiguana · 23 Apr 2009 at 18:15

I have the new apple bluetooth keyboard and will agree its not the best for extensive typing. I find the keys are spaced slightly too far apart for comfortable touch typing. Otherwise its very good. I generally only use mine for light surfing/command functions at the top so its not an issue for me. IF you planned to use as your primary keyboard input I would avoid.

MagicBoy · 23 Apr 2009 at 19:33

Fillado said:
I would say get Leopard & iLife '09.

If it's a new unit then this comes pre-loaded...

Fillado · 23 Apr 2009 at 20:17

MagicBoy said:
If it's a new unit then this comes pre-loaded...

Soogs said:
specs are:
2ghz dual core
1gb memory
120gb hd
osx 10.4 with ilife (i think)

memyselfandi · 23 Apr 2009 at 21:09

I would consider looking into getting a memory upgrade as 1GB isn't that much.

Software wise I suggest looking at Plex ... it's in beta but I'm finding it good (note that it needs Leopard)

MagicBoy · 24 Apr 2009 at 01:36

osx 10.4 with ilife (i think)

I can quote the i think in 72pt text if it's easier to read?

2GHZ/1GB/120GB is the current base spec Mac mini, unless perhaps it's an upgraded mid 2007 spec.

Soogs · 2 May 2009 at 07:16

Hey peeps just to let you know its here and its amazing!!!
I love this little powerbox!

so glad i got rid of the old emac (even though it was cool for a while)

started installing some stuff... and had only one niggle so far...

i cant seem to get quicktime to play divx movies

i want to use the remote and be lazy and stuff but i cant because it wont play back

how can i make quicktime work with all file types ( well divx, xvid and all common avi extentions?)

i mean the remote seems to work with vlc just fine but.... me lazy!!!

ive only had this thing less than 24hrs and i think i wont ever buy another pc hehe

ok now i can breathe!

memyselfandi · 2 May 2009 at 08:11

Sounds like you need Perian (I think it's mentioned in the FAQ in the Apple Software forum)